Meet the FDA’s OOPD Acting Director Dr. Rao

Dr. Gayatri Rao, MD, JD, will be serving as the Acting Director for the Office of Orphan Products Development beginning the week of October 10th. Dr. Rao received her M.D. from New Jersey Medical School (UMDNJ-NJMS). Upon graduation from medical school, she went on to earn a joint J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she concentrated on healthcare and FDA related issues, and a masters in bioethics from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Following law school, she worked for the law firm, Sidley Austin LLP, in Washington, D.C., focusing primarily on food and drug and other healthcare related matters, including matters related to orphan products. She then joined FDA’s Office of the Chief Counsel where she provided advice on a wide range of issues related to medical devices, combination products, clinical trials, and human subject protection. She will be bringing her unique medical, legal/regulatory, and bioethical background to help to move the OOPD rare disease mission forward.Click here to read more…